Earlier this week, Jewish communities around the world celebrated Purim, a holiday marked by joy, generosity, and acts of kindness. One of its most beloved traditions is the giving of mishloach manot, festive food packages shared with friends, neighbours, and those who may need a reminder that they are part of the community.

Across Ottawa, organizations, synagogues, and volunteers embrace this tradition each year, turning a simple custom into a powerful expression of care. Among the most impactful are the large-scale programs run by Ten Yad of Ottawa and Jewish Education through Torah (JET).

This Purim, approximately 1,400 individuals, households, and facilities received thoughtfully prepared mishloach manot packages filled with festive treats. Each package included Purim favourites such as hamantaschen, an inspirational holiday message, a beautifully designed card, and other carefully selected goodies. More than just gifts, these packages carried a powerful message: you are remembered, valued, and part of our community.

Esti Fogel, founder of the Ten Yad program, looks forward to helping the community each year by delivering mishloach manot, knowing that families in need are supported through the initiative.

“Holidays are an especially sensitive time when family and friends play an outsized role in the celebration of the day,” she said. “This program is about inclusion and caring, demonstrating the care, compassion, and love that is the hallmark of our people, and the recipients feel that love.”

Launched more than five years ago, the program reflects one of the central themes of Purim. In the Book of Esther, Haman justifies his plot against the Jewish people by describing them as “a people scattered and dispersed throughout the provinces of his kingdom.” He believed that distance and dispersion signalled weakness and vulnerability.

The packages delivered throughout Ottawa tell a very different story. While seniors may be physically dispersed across numerous facilities, they remain deeply connected to the fabric of Jewish life in the city. Far from isolated, they are cherished members of a united community.

Packages are adapted for those with restricted diets, and special accommodations are made for recipients in correctional facilities, where regulations govern what may be delivered. The guiding principle is simple but profound: each recipient should feel that their package was prepared specifically for them.

The impact extends well beyond the individuals who receive the gifts, Fogel says.

“There is a true ripple effect,” she said. “Family members feel supported, and the volunteers feel empowered to make a difference, so the joy spreads beyond the individual recipient.”

The project is a true collaboration and a testament to what can be accomplished when many hands and hearts work together. Ten Yad oversees purchasing, design, artistic details, coordination with facilities, and volunteer logistics, while Machzikei Hadas provides the central packing space where the gift bags are assembled.

Rabbi Scher prepares the inspirational message included in each package. Volunteers from Tamir serve as the core packing crew, and a dedicated fleet of volunteers delivers the packages directly to facilities across the city.

Together, they transform a simple act of giving into something far greater — a living expression of unity, dignity, and care. In a holiday that celebrates the triumph of Jewish resilience and connection, these Purim packages stand as a beautiful example of community in action.

At JET, the mishloach manot program has been running for 25 years, reaching people in Ottawa and beyond. This year’s program included approximately 150 volunteers who carefully organized and delivered the packages.

“The number of households we reach is approximately 25% of Ottawa’s Jewish community,” said Rabbi Zischa Shaps, founder and director of JET. “For many people, this is the only mishloach manot they receive and their only connection to Purim.”

Rabbi Shaps also notes that the positive feedback they receive is part of what keeps the initiative going, demonstrating the importance of the happiness it brings to recipients’ lives.

To learn more about Ten Yad, click here. To learn more about JET, click here.